Los Angeles Dodgers’ Joc Pederson began the month with a .243 batting average, .353 on-base percentage and a .472 slugging percentage — consistent with the .246/.352/.495 slash line he posted in 2016. Sunday, those numbers fell to .216/.330/.420.(AP Photo/Matt York)

LOS ANGELES — Dodgers center fielder Joc Pederson went 0 for 3 against the San Diego Padres on Sunday. His day at the plate included a foul pop-out and two groundouts to a second baseman shifted into shallow right field. For Pederson, it was a perfect microcosm of a miserable August in which he has only one hit.

“I think for Joc there’s a mechanical issue,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “There’s an approach issue. He understands this: getting back to the big part of the field, he’s going to have more success. When he’s coming out of his swing, getting more rotational and hitting the ball to the second baseman, that’s not where he wants to be.”

Pederson began the month with a .243 batting average, .353 on-base percentage and a .472 slugging percentage — consistent with the .246/.352/.495 slash line he posted in 2016. Sunday, those numbers fell to .216/.330/.420.

Pederson, a left-handed hitter, remains a notoriously hard swinger in his third full season. Typically he has a good eye for the strike zone, and his strikeout and walk rates are virtually unchanged this month.

Lately, the problem lies in the kind of contact Pederson is making. He’s hit only three balls to the opposite field in August compared to 12 in July. His hard-hit rate has plummeted, dragging his batting average on balls in play down too.

Considering the Dodgers’ vaunted depth, Pederson might have a short rope for failure. Roberts said he’s considered swapping Pederson, who typically bats seventh, with right fielder Yasiel Puig, who typically bats eighth, “but right now I’m not prepared to move Yasiel.”

Puig has a career-high 21 home runs this season to go with a .337 on-base percentage. Those numbers are unusually high for a number-8 hitter.

“There’s a little bit to having Yasiel thrive in the eighth (spot) and being able to hit with the pitcher behind him,” Roberts said. “Also there’s a lineup construction, as far as the opponent and their bullpen. Where we’re at, to break up the lineup with righties and lefties also, there’s an advantage there too.”

The longer Pederson struggles at the plate, the more his confidence might suffer. For now at least, Roberts is content to let the 25-year-old work through it.

“We know he’s going to come out of it,” the manager said.

INJURY UPDATES
Clayton Kershaw threw from a bullpen mound for the second time in three days Sunday. The 48-pitch tune-up built on a 30-pitch session Friday.

Roberts said that Kershaw will throw two simulated innings on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium. He’ll then head out on a minor league rehab assignment whose time and place is to be determined. His first outing is likely to consist of three innings.

“To come out of it feeling good, feeling strong, that’s a win for us,” Roberts said.

Kershaw has been sidelined since July 24 with a lower back strain.

First baseman Adrian Gonzalez and outfielder Andre Ethier each got a day off from their minor league rehab assignments. The two veterans will return to Class-A affiliate Rancho Cucamonga on Monday.HATCHER RETURNS, FARMER DEMOTED
The Dodgers activated pitcher Chris Hatcher from the disabled list and optioned Kyle Farmer to Triple-A Oklahoma City. For now they will carry three players on their bench and nine in their bullpen.

Hatcher’s next appearance will be his first since June 22. He is 0-1 with a 4.66 earned-run average in 26 games this season. The right-hander missed 42 games with a case of thoracic inflammation that affected his back. He pitched three minor league rehab games for Oklahoma City last week and did not allow a run, striking out six batters in four innings.

Farmer had a storybook debut following his first major-league call-up. He delivered the game-winning hit in his first major league at-bat, an 11th-inning double against the San Francisco Giants on July 30. In 12 plate appearances, he had four hits and two walks.

Join the Conversation

We invite you to use our commenting platform to engage in insightful conversations about issues in our community. Although we do not pre-screen comments, we reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us, and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. We might permanently block any user who abuses these conditions.

If you see comments that you find offensive, please use the “Flag as Inappropriate” feature by hovering over the right side of the post, and pulling down on the arrow that appears. Or, contact our editors by emailing moderator@scng.com.